Infection rate in NCR drops

COVID-19 outbreaks in convents alarm QC

The reproduction number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Metro Manila has further dipped to 1.25, with only a 3-percent growth rate in cases, independent research group OCTA said on Friday, Sept. 17.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said that the National Capital Region (NCR) averaged

5,710 cases daily from Sept. 10 to 16, which is just three percent higher than the average daily cases from Sept. 3 to 9.

Consistent with the recorded lower growth rate was the registered lower reproduction number over the past seven days at 1.25, David said.

OCTA has been hoping that the reproduction number will decrease to below one to see a reduction in the actual number of daily reported COVID-19 cases.

Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual and is the primary indicator used by OCTA to study COVID trends in the country.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate in Metro Manila over the past seven days remains high at 25 percent. This refers to the percentage of PCR tests that yielded a positive result.

The ideal positivity rate set by the World Health Organization is five percent.

In a series of posts on Twitter on Thursday, Sept. 16, David said the Philippines has averaged 20,329 cases over the past week – an increase of one percent from the previous week.

The country's reproduction has also slipped to 1.20.

“New cases in the country may be peaking, and if the trend continues, the country is not likely to have 30k [30,000] cases in one day,” David said.

However, he warned that the downward trend could be easily reversed if the public does not exercise proper caution.

Care facilities

monitored

As this developed, the Quezon City local government is closely monitoring all closed-setting and long-term care facilities following the outbreak of COVID19 cases in these types of facilities.

The latest facility affected is the Stella Maris convent in Cubao, Quezon City, where at least 13 nuns were infected by COVID-19.

Earlier, the Religious of Virgin Mary (RVM) Convent and the Convent of the Holy Spirit, both located in Quezon City, were hit by coronavirus outbreak.

At least 22 nuns and staff at the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Barangay Immaculate Conception tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Quezon City government, the convent has 90 residents.

Of the positive cases, 13 are nuns and nine are staff, including the index case or the first documented case in the institution.

Fourteen of these infected individuals are fully vaccinated while the others have yet to receive their COVID-19 jabs.

Dr. Rolando Cruz, Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) chief, said 46 individuals were swabbed last Sept. 10 while the rest refused to be tested at that time.

“Per our agreement with them, they will take care of the testing of the remaining 44 individuals and they will send us the results as soon as they come out,” said Cruz.

Swab results of the 46 showed that 25 have tested negative, while 22 were found positive for the virus, including the index case.

Majority of infected nuns are between 80 and 101 years old.

At the RVM convent in Barangay Kaunlaran, New Manila, at least 114 nuns and staff were infected.

According to CESU, 61 nuns and 53 staff contracted COVID-19.

CESU said 22 patients are asymptomatic, 86 are experiencing mild symptoms, four are moderate cases, and two are severe cases.

The two severe cases are now being treated at the ICU, according to CESU.

Doctors from St. Luke’s Medical Center are monitoring the patients who are being attended to by caregivers.

The convent is now under granular lockdown.

With the current development, the city government is now proactive in dealing with the situation.

“Hindi pwedeng reactive tayo sa tuwing magkakaroon ng outbreak. Nakikita natin na sunod-sunod na ang mga reported outbreak sa ganitong high-risk facilities, unahan na natin (We cannot be reactive every time there is an outbreak. We see a series of reported outbreaks in such high-risk facilities, let’s go ahead). We will test them and check if they have strict health protocols in place,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Belmonte directed the CESU to determine the vaccination status of all individuals staying and working in these facilities.

“Kailangan nating malaman kung may bakuna ba ang mga ito at gaya ng ginawa natin sa ibang nursing homes at opisina, tayo na ang pupunta sa kanila para sila ay mabakunahan kung marami sa kanila ang takot lumabas o ayaw lumabas ngayong panahon ng pandemya (We need to know if they have already been vaccinated, and as we have done in other nursing homes and offices, we will go to them so that they can be vaccinated if many of them are afraid to go out or do not want to go out during the pandemic),” she said.

The city government has already provided paracetamol, vitamins, hygiene kits, face masks, alcohol, soap, rice, and food packs to the affected individuals.